Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview

Two clubs facing each other for the second time this season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning collide at Amalie Arena for an Eastern Conference showdown. Fox Sports Sun will air the matchup, which gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 9.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds

Carolina (+175) is entering this one as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-205) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.

Earning moneyline bettors 11.8 units, Tampa Bay is 30-12 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the NHL in this young season, is an improvement over the 42-40 record from last years regular season campaign. Of its 42 games this season, 24 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the teams 16-4 SU at home.

The Lightning currently have the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they have scored on 24.8 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all penalties.

The Lightning, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over their past five matchups total, and 4.6 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties for 9.8 minutes per contest over their last five home games.

With a .935 save percentage and 28.7 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (26-9-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Bolts this season. If the Bolts, however, choose to give him a breather, head coach Jon Cooper could turn to Louis Domingue (1-7-7 record, .870 save percentage, 4.02 goals against average).

The Bolts will continue seeking leadership via Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Kucherov (59 points) has produced 27 goals and 32 assists and has recorded multiple points on 20 separate occasions this year. Stamkos has 17 goals and 34 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 28 contests.

Carolina is 19-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 41 regular season outings, 20 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just two have pushed. As a road team, the Hurricanes are 9-14 SU so far.

The Hurricanes have converted on just 16.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.0 percent of all penalties.

Carolina’s players have been called for penalties only 2.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.0 per game over their last five games. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Scott Darling (.893 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Carolina. Darling is averaging 24.5 saves per game and owns an 8-18-6 record.

Teuvo Teravainen (11 goals, 22 assists) has been one of the most vital offensive playmakers for the visiting Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions

Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over

Betting Trends

Over Tampa Bay’s last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).

Power-play opportunities could prove to be critical in this one. The Hurricanes are 11-12 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-19 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Lightning are 18-5 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 16-5 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.

Two of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this year.

Tampa Bay may hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The teams 11-6 in games decided by one goal, while Carolina is 8-14 in such games.

The under has hit in three of Tampa Bay’s last five games.

Tampa Bay skaters have averaged 6.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 8.5 giveaways per game (ranked 9th in the NHL).

Carolina skaters have averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.2 giveaways per game (ranked 20th in the league).